Chinnor Chalk Pit facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 |
|
| Area of Search | Oxfordshire |
|---|---|
| Interest | Geological |
| Area | 20.4 hectares (50 acres) |
| Notification | 1986 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Chinnor Chalk Pit is a special place in Oxfordshire, England. It covers about 20.4-hectare (50-acre) of land. This site is important for its unique geology and the ancient fossils found there. It is officially known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it is protected because of its rare wildlife, geology, or landforms. It is also a Geological Conservation Review site, which highlights its importance for studying Earth's history.
Exploring Chinnor Chalk Pit's Ancient Secrets
Natural England, an organization that protects nature, says this site is amazing. It has excellent views of a special rock layer. This layer is called Totternhoe Stone. This stone formed about 100 million years ago. That was during the mid-Cenomanian stage of the Cretaceous period. This was a time when dinosaurs roamed the Earth!
Discovering Ancient Sea Creatures
Many fossils have been found here. These fossils come from the Lower and Middle Chalk. One common type of fossil found is the ammonite. Ammonites were ancient sea creatures. They looked a bit like squids living inside a spiral shell. They swam in the oceans millions of years ago. Finding these fossils helps scientists learn about Earth's past environments.
The Old Kiln Lakes
The Chinnor Chalk Pit site is private land. This means there is no public access. Much of the old chalk pit is now filled with water. These areas are known as the Old Kiln Lakes. The lakes contain freshwater, but it is very alkaline. In 2012, people were advised to stay away from the lakes. They were also warned not to swim in them for safety reasons.
However, fish live in these lakes. You can find fish like carp and tench here. Since the late 20th century, a group called the Chinnor Works Angling Society has been allowed to fish in the lakes. This shows that even though it's a protected site, it can still support some activities.
